JOHOR BARU: The Sessions Court here has sentenced an 18-year-old teenager to seven strokes of a light cane for setting a dog on fire last month.

Sessions Court Judge Che Wan Zaidi Che Wan Ibrahim also ordered Braden Yap Hong Sheng to be placed on a good behaviour bond for one year with a surety of RM10,000.

“Your action is cruel and inhumane towards an animal that also has the right to live in peace,” he told Yap before handing down the sentence here on Tuesday (April 18).

The court also ordered that the light caning on Yap to be held in open court at 9am on May 21 next month.

Under Section 293 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC), when a youthful offender is convicted before any criminal court, the court may instead choose an alternate punishment.

Section 293(1)(c) of the CPC allows the court to order the offender, if male, to be whipped with not more than seven strokes of a light cane within the court premises and in the presence of the parent and guardian.

On Thursday (April 13), Yap pleaded guilty at the Sessions Court to a charge of animal abuse after setting a dog on fire last month.

According to the charge sheet, Yap had caused excruciating pain to a brown female dog by beating it and setting it on fire.

The act was conducted at 1.49am on March 27 (Wednesday) along Jalan Impian Emas 22, Taman Impian Emas.

The act is an offence under Section 29(1)(e) of the Animal Welfare Act 2015, which carries a fine of at least RM20,000 to RM100,000 or imprisonment of up to three years, or both, if found guilty.

Veterinary Services Department prosecution officer Mohd Zamri Ishak prosecuted the case while lawyer G. Sritharan represented Yap.